Firehose connector

ABSTRACT

A rapidly assembled and disassembled, pressure tight connection of a firehose to a hydrant or the like is made even if the threads of the outlet pipe of the latter are damaged or do not exist. A slotted, clamping sleeve receives a clamping nut on its external threads, and when the nut is tightened the slotted end of the clamping sleeve engages the outlet pipe. A hose connector carries an enlarged external diameter collar faced with a gasket which bears against the end of the outlet pipe and the gasket is forced thereagainst by a threaded body which engages internal threads on the clamping sleeve. The hose connector swivels inside the body until the collar is tightened against the end of the outlet pipe.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Charles 0. Morris 5613 Layton Drive,North Highlands, Calif. 95660 [211 App]. No. 878,139 [22] Filed Nov. 19,1969 [4S] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 54 rmnnosn CONNECTOR 7 Claims, 3Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 285/35, 285/38, 285/322, 285/379 [51] Int. Cl. F16l 37/10[50] Field of Search 285/34, 35, 38, 32 R, 322, 323,276, 379

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 964,578 7/1910 Stephens285/276 1,111,991 9/1914 Bremer 285/35 2,327,714 8/1943 iftiger 285/352,231,310 2/1941 Williams 339/202 1 011121019 PATENTS l,208,967 9/1959France 285/38 433,001 6/1911 France Primary Examiner Dave W. ArolaAttorney-Julian Caplan ABSTRACT: A rapidly assembled and disassembled,pressure tight connection of a firehose to a hydrant or the like is madeeven if the threads of the outlet pipe of the latter are damaged or donot exist. A slotted, clamping sleeve receives a clamping Fl 6. 11 41INVENTOR CHARLES O. MORRIS ATTORNEY FIREHOSE CONNECTOR This inventionrelates to a new and improved connector for connecting firehose tohydrants and for various types of pipe and plumbing connections. Forconvenience, the invention is described in its preferred use-connectinga standard-firehose to a hydrant. As thus understood particularly, theinvention relates to a means for attaching a firehose to a fire hydrantoutlet or other source of fluid under pressure. 1

y ,A particular advantage of the present invention is the fact thatmeans is provided for attaching a hose to an outlet which may beexternally threaded with substantially intact threads or may havedamaged threads or may be smooth. The connection is adaptable to outletsof various sizes from one-half inch in diameter to any larger sizedoutlet.

A further feature and advantage of the invention is the fact that theconnection will stand considerable pressure whether the outlet isthreaded or unthreaded and whether the threads are in good condition orseverely damaged. Thus the connector provides a fluid-type seal againstthe end of the connector and the external surface of the outlet ismerely a meansto which the connector is gripped. The device does notrequire a watertight threaded engagement between the connector and theexterior of the outlet. 7

Another feature of the invention is the fact that the device may beinstalled very rapidly, an advantage in firehose usage, and will alsodisconnect rapidly.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that the body or member towhich the firehose is threadedis rotatable relative to the hydrant untila firm connection is made thereby allowing the hose to swivel relativeto the hydrant while a connection is being made and thus eliminating thepossibility of twisting or kinking hose. Nevertheless when the connectoris secured, a rigid, pressure tight, locked connection results.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawingsin which similar characters of reference represent corresponding partsin each of the several views. In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of the connector of the presentinvention partly broken away to conserve space.

FIG. 2 is a view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 isa fragmentary elevational view of the hub and fingers of thegripping member.

The present invention provides a series of interfitting sleeveshereinafter described in detail, which are concentric with the circularcross section outlet 11 of a fire hydrant or the like. Outlet 11 has arelatively smooth annular outer end 12 and external threads 13 areformed inwardly of end 12. The threads 13 of a fire hydrant tend withthe passage of time to be damaged and this makes a pressure tightthreaded connection difficult to achieve. Further, as the threads becomedamaged it becomes more and more difficult to install and remove a hosefrom the outlet. The present invention fits over the threaded end 13 butthe engagement of the threads is not a crucial factor in the formationof the seal. Hence, even if the threads 13 are damaged or even if theyare nonexistent, a proper connection may be achieved.

Body 14 is cylindrical and of the same inside diameter as outlet 11. Theexterior 16 of body 14 is threaded and a conventional firehose ferrulemay be attached thereto. Diametrically opposed hubs 17 are formed onmember 14 to receive handles 18 by which the body 14 may be rotatedrelativeto outlet 11. On the inner end of body 14 is a steel or othermetal collar 21 held nonrotatable with respect thereto by screws 22 orother means. Interposed between collar 21 and end 12 is a rubber gasket23. When the collar 21 is forced toward end 12 as hereinafter appears,the gasket 23 seals against end 12 and also against collar 21 which isin fluidtight relationship relative to body 14.

Sleeve 26 surrounds body 14 below hub 17. The outer ends of sleeve 26have second hubs 27 which carry second handles 28 projecting radiallytherefrom. Sleeve 26 is freely rotatable relative to body 14 before theconnector is tightened and to facilitate such free rotation, nylon orother friction reducing rings 29 and 31 and interposed between therotatable members in insertable grooves. External threads 32 are formedon sleeve 26 below hubs 27.

Slotted tubular gripping member or hub 36 has internal threads 37 whichmesh with threads 32. The lower end of member 36 as viewed in FIG. 2,has a plurality of fingers 41 which are formed by slots 42 which extendinward from the lower end of hub 36 to approximately one-quarter inchfrom the face of hub 36. The interior of fingers 41 is threaded asindicated by reference numeral 43 to mesh in loose fashion with threads13 and the exterior of fingers 41 is also threaded as indicated byreference numeral 44. Reference is made to Williams US Pat. No.2,231,310 issued Feb. 11, 194] showing a clamp connector of the generaltype of member 36.

Surrounding the fingers 41 is nut 46 having internal threads 47 whichmate with threads 44 of fingers 41. Handles 48 are formed on nut 46.

In the use of the device, prior to the installation of the connector onoutlet 11, nut 46 is backed off relative to clamp member 36 so that thefiners 41 will slip over the threads 13 or can easily be threadedrelative thereto. Thereupon nut 46 is turned by means of handles 48 sothat the fingers 41 clamp against the outlet 11 and thereafter themember 36 cannot be moved axially relative to outlet 11. The nut 46 maybe turned readily and rapidly to effect the connection. During thepreliminary portion of the installation, sleeve 26 is loose relative tomember 36. In other words, member 26 is moved inwardly relative tomember 36 as viewed in FIG. 2. This relationship allows body 14 toswivel relative to sleeve 26 and hence the tightening of the connectoron outlet 11 does not cause a turning of the hose which is in engagementwith body 14. To complete the connection, handles 28 are rotated toforce sleeve 26 towards outlet 11 and the end of sleeve 26 bears againstcollar 21 and forces that collar and gasket 23 into firm engagement withend 12. When gasket 23 is compressed between collar 21 and end 12, apressure tight seal is effected between body 14 and outlet 11. Further,rotation of body 14 relative to sleeve 26 and end 11 is terminated. Fordisconnection, a reverse rotation of the parts is performed.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail, byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it is understood that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A connector comprising a cylindrical body having a first end formedfor attachment to a hose or other outlet and a second end opposite saidfirst end, a seal on said second end having an external diameter largerthan said second end, a sleeve surrounding said second end and rotatablerelative thereto prior to completion of connection, said sleeve bearingagainst said seal and having external first threads, and meanspreventing said sleeve from being detached from said second end, anannular connector member having internal second threads mating with saidfirst threads and having a plurality of axially projecting taperedfingers separated from each other by radial slots, said fingerssurrounding said seal and projecting beyond said seal and beingdeformable in a radial direction relative to said connector member, saidfingers formed with. external third threads, and a nut surrounding saidfingers and having internal threads in threaded engagement with saidthird threads, whereby upon rotation of said nut relative to saidconnector member said fingers are clamped against a tubular outletdisposed within said fingers and upon rotation of said sleeve relativeto said connector member said seal is tightened against said outlet andsaid body is gripped against rotation relative to said connector member.

2. A connector according to claim 1 in which said seal includes a rigidcollar of an external diameter greater than said second end. i

turning means comprises a radial handle.

6. A connector according to claim 1 which further comprises antifrictionbearing means interposed between the exterior of said body and theinterior of said sleeve.

7. A connector according to claim 1 in which the interior of saidfingers are formed with fourth threads for gripping engagement with theexterior of said outlet.

1. A connector comprising a cylindrical body having a first end formedfor attachment to a hose or other outlet and a second end opposite saidfirst end, a seal on said second end having an external diameter largerthan said second end, a sleeve surrounding said second end and rotatablerelative thereto prior to completion of connection, said sleeve bearingagainst said seal and having external first threads, and meanspreventing said sleeve from being detached from said second end, anannular connector member having internal second threads mating with saidfirst threads and having a plurality of axially projecting taperedfingers separated from each other by radial slots, said fingerssurrounding said seal and projecting beyond said seal and beingdeformable in a radial direction relative to said connector member, saidfingers formed with external third threads, and a nut surrounding saidfingers and having internal threads in threaded engagement with saidthird threads, whereby upon rotation of said nut relative to saidconnector member said fingers are clamped against a tubular outletdisposed within said fingers and upon rotation of said sleeve relativeto said connector member said seal is tightened against said outlet andsaid body is gripped against rotation relative to said connector member.2. A connector according to claim 1 in which said seal includes a rigidcollar of an external diameter greater than said second end.
 3. Aconnector according to claim 2 in which said collar is fixed to saidsecond end of said body and said seal comprises a resilient gasket onthe side of said collar opposite said second end.
 4. A connectoraccording to claim 1 which further comprises separate turning meansconnected to said body, said sleeve and said nut for turning movementthereof relative to each other.
 5. A connector according to claim 4 inwhich each said turning means comprises a radial handle.
 6. A connectoraccording to claim 1 which further comprises antifriction bearing meansinterposed between the exterior of said body and the interior of saidsleeve.
 7. A connector according to claim 1 in which the interior ofsaid fingers are formed with fourth threads for gripping engagement withthe exterior of said outlet.